UCLan student reaches great heights with high achievement award

Adventure sports coaching student swaps the classroom for the mountain to receive first class degree

A University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) student has been presented with the high achievement award for her dissertation in adventure sports coaching.

Aimee Busko, originally from Leicester, has completed her degree with the added achievement of being recognised for her outstanding research dissertation which centred on learning outside of the classroom.

The 22 year-old said: “I was a little nervous about graduating, it was shock to hear I’d been given the award, but I’m thrilled that my work has been recognised.”

The former Loughborough College student has been working in the adventure and leisure industry for several years and at 18 was offered a job with Leicester Outdoor Pursuit Centre.

She said: “There’s just something I love about being outdoors, it’s so exhilarating. Before I came to University I spent six months exploring New Zealand and enjoying the spectacular adventure opportunities they have over there.”

The lecturers on my course were brilliant, they gave us such a diverse range of skills and knowledge. The course came highly recommended to me by my colleagues from the outdoor centre in Leicester and it certainly didn’t disappoint.

During the course of her degree Aimee took part on residential trips practising her kayaking, climbing and management skills, whilst learning about physiology, performance and sustainability in the classroom.

She said: “The lecturers on my course were brilliant, they gave us such a diverse range of skills and knowledge. The course came highly recommended to me by my colleagues from the outdoor centre in Leicester and it certainly didn’t disappoint.”

Aimee is the youngest member of her family and the first one to go to University. Looking back on her time at UCLan she said: “I’d never been to Preston before, but I’ve loved my time here, I’m now thinking about doing a master's to further my experience in adventure sports.”

Laura was among nearly 4,000 graduates who took to the stage at Preston’s Guild Hall last week to graduate in front of their family and friends.